Apart from a miracle, we are all but assured a finals berth. Firstly congratulations, we have been waiting a hell of a long time for this!!

Looking ahead, I think it is imperative that we end up playing Port in the final and not Sydney.

As satisfying as it is to make finals, I don't think we stand a chance against Sydney especially on their home track. It would be disappointing to make finals but be outclassed and bundled out in week 1.

Fingers and toes crossed that we are matched up against Port. I think we can knock them off and move into week 2.

Anyone else thinking along the same lines? I will be eagerly watching all games and hoping we match against Port, it could be only a matter of percentage.

Please close the thread and reopen after sat if we win. 

Its too early for this imo. 

We can not afford to get ahead of ourselves cause we all know what happens then. 

True Heart you are thinking too much, let it unfold how wants too.

 

^^

I find it interesting when Melbourne supporters  had doubt about making finals people would say we need to believe we can make it, now that we're so close and people suggest things about IF we make it ,we're getting ahead of ourselves. It's okay to have hope and generally feel like we'll do it. It'll be disappointing if we don't but it's okay to think we can. 

Lost me at "assured a finals berth"

 

ugh

Sydney in Sydney it'll be.

No greater test than playing the Swans away in a final. 

Will truly see which players will stand-up.

Melbourne v Sydney up there

City v City

talk to Craig Bellamy, the Storm Boys win up there all the time

We should not fear any side if we win next week. 

Study each side for weaknesses to exploit

2 hours ago, DemonOX said:

Please close the thread and reopen after sat if we win. 

Its too early for this imo. 

We can not afford to get ahead of ourselves cause we all know what happens then. 

Yeah, but we're not the players!

Also hardly a miracle - by my reckoning its a mere 40 point turn around from both games - a 3 goal loss to us and a 3 goal win to WCE see s them through... 

Edited August 21, 20178 yr by Danelska

Port and Swans to win this weekend.

Tigers to lose to Saints.

 

We'll play Richmond at the G.

20 minutes ago, stevethemanjordan said:

Sydney in Sydney it'll be.

No greater test than playing the Swans away in a final. 

Will truly see which players will stand-up.

This would be great if it were to happen. Sydney would most likely belt us but the lessons gained from that final v the best should make the boys hungry for next year and go into the pre-season knowing the level they need to rise to in 2018.

Our 3 likely opponents are:

Sydney in Sydney
Port in Adelaide
Richmond in Melbourne

Sydney are the form side of the competition, they're 12-2 over the past 14 weeks. They belted us at the MCG already this year. They'll most likely make the Grand Final IMO. On current form, if we met them in week one they'd most likely belt us again and we'd be out in straight sets.

Port are fickle. They've struggled all year against decent teams that apply pressure to them. We've already beat them once this year at the MCG, and beat them late last year in Adelaide too. We'd have to travel to Adelaide, but if we are on and apply pressure again then we'll be a big chance to beat them. 

Richmond have had a great year considering they are a flakey team with an average list propped up by a few stars. We've beaten them repeatedly over the pst few years and had them beat when we played them this year, only to suffer injuries and be two men down for a half and have our structure ruined. I'd back us to beat them any day. It's almost guaranteed Richmond will sh*t the bed come finals time, it's built into their DNA! This is the ideal week one match up as we get to stay in Melbourne, played at our home ground in the MCG, and play a mentally fragile team that have a recent history of poor finals performances.

19 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

Port and Swans to win this weekend.

Tigers to lose to Saints.

 

We'll play Richmond at the G.

 

Would be ideal.

2 hours ago, True Heart said:

Apart from a miracle, we are all but assured a finals berth. Firstly congratulations, we have been waiting a hell of a long time for this!!

Melbourne losing by 20 points and West Coast winning by 20 points wouldn't exactly be a "miracle".

I'd be reasonably confident against Richmond or even Port in Adelaide.

Sydney in Sydney, in a final... probably the hardest ask in footy at the moment.

2 hours ago, True Heart said:

Apart from a miracle catastrophe, we are all but assured a finals berth. Firstly congratulations, we have been waiting a hell of a long time for this!!

Correction to the OP.

I just do not get this "we are there stuff". A loss to Collingwood with a win to the Eagles (with everything to play for) could very easily see us drop out. It has been my nightmare scenario for the last 3 weeks. Win against Collingwood and yes, start thinking about who we play. Lose to Collingwood and it will more than likely be irrelevant. Go Dees at the last (but very significant) hurdle.

Yeah honestly, can you really blame Melbourne fans for wanting to be assured scientifically before congratulating and assuming that we'll be in? I don't call that negativity I call it being smart. Nothing against True Heart I actually like the post and its good discussion but don't blame people for keeping their emotions in check.

9 minutes ago, Call Me What You Will said:

I just do not get this "we are there stuff". A loss to Collingwood with a win to the Eagles (with everything to play for) could very easily see us drop out. It has been my nightmare scenario for the last 3 weeks. Win against Collingwood and yes, start thinking about who we play. Lose to Collingwood and it will more than likely be irrelevant. Go Dees at the last (but very significant) hurdle.

I see your point, but I just can't for the life of me see the Eagles beating the Crows.  Unlike previous years, Adelaide need to give their best team a good run wrote the bye.  There's no more testing players or taking their foot off the accelerator.

No one really wants to front Sydney in Sydney as a first do or die final but it could pan out like that. IF we make it, I'd be happy to play Sydney on our merits. Whatever the result (except a 20 goal flogging ) we will gain plenty out of the experience.

Sydney aren't unbeatable...the Hawks and Bombers showed earlier this year that the SCG isn't a fortress. 

And no way should we use the MCG loss to them as a barometer...we were cooked on the back of three six day breaks and were the most lethargic we've been all year.  Sure, we'd go in as big underdogs but I think we'd give them a huge shake. 

I'm sure we could give them a run. Would have to be prepared to do just that though, run. I think the bye will really benefit us.

I'm torn on this one...I want it to be in Sydney so my son and I can go along to watch the game.

I understand what everyone's saying, that we aren't guaranteed a spot, which is true. All I'm saying is that its likely that we will make finals and if we do, I would hope we match up against Port. I can't see us beating Sydney. It would be unlucky to run into them in an elimination final. 

Sydney won't go all the way, but if they do it'll be one of if not the best premiership win of all time. To start 0-6 and then be switched on for 22-23 straight weeks is unbelievable. They've had very close to zero margin for error up until last week's game against Adelaide when they clinched a finals berth. Imo that will have its mental strain and they'll hit a wall eventually. 

I think sydney in sydney would be the best possible test for this Demons team.

8 minutes ago, True Heart said:

I understand what everyone's saying, that we aren't guaranteed a spot, which is true. All I'm saying is that its likely that we will make finals and if we do, I would hope we match up against Port. I can't see us beating Sydney. It would be unlucky to run into them in an elimination final. 

Would much much prefer Port